The nicu and our miracle

After our sweet babe was born (blog name still yet to be determined), I was able to hold her for a bit before the nursery nurse came to look at her and noticed her labored breathing. They took her away to give her oxygen. They also had to suck stuff out off her tummy since she swallowed a bunch of stuff while being born.
After a a couple of hours in the nursey not improving they moved her to the nicu. They hooked her up to a cpap, oxygen and stuck a tube down her throat to keep I believe fluid and air out of her tummy. They did x-rays and found she did have some fluids in her lungs. And they put her on antibiotics. It is so sad to see all that happen.
I wasn't worried that something serious was going to be forever wrong with her, especially having been through something similar to Boo's birth. Besides being concerned about the pain and discomfort she was experiencing, and what she'd have to go through to being whole, I was worried about how long her stay would be. I know this might sound awful, but I was concerned financially how a possible 7 day nicu stay would deplete our savings. It was one of my worries from the beginning of this pregnancy, knowing how expensive boo's stay was in the nicu.
As they poked and prodded I remembered my prayer the night before and that we would be blessed with a miracle.
We decided to call my dad over to help give her a blessing.
It was a special moment to call in the blessings of heaven through the priesthood on the behalf our baby.
We could just sit with her and look in on her little bed all hooked up.

(This is after the cpap and tube down her throat )

It wasn't until that evening when we were just sitting in her room that a night nurse let me hold her and nurse her. This was a no-no since she had the tube down her throat trying to keep everything out of her tummy. But I believe that night nurse was our miracle.  She was kind and encouraging telling me that skin to skin and nursing help the baby. It was amazing how holding her calmed her breathing down, I noticed that while I was holding her. After awhile we left. And probably a hour later or so GG went back to get something and she was off the cpap.
So she only was on the cpap and oxygen for 6 hours.  We just had to wait out to make sure she was okay and to finish the antibiotics.
They wanted to keep her longer but I questioned it a bit since she wasn't on anything and was doing fine. They decided to let her come home with me when I was discharged.  I was thrilled to be done with our stay and going home!

She's here!! The birth story

She finally made it! For all the waiting and anticipating, she made a speedy entrance into the world.
Ready for the birth story?nothing graphic, I promise.
I went to my 40 week appointment and decided to be induced rather than run the risk of having to wait another week to be induced if I didn't have her on my own before then. I really, really wanted her to come on her own but I was quite simply done. Between contractions at night and an awful cough, I was hardly sleeping.
I worried about bringing her into the world before she was ready so I prayed that night about it. I felt good about the decision and i had different phrases from my patriarchal blessing come to my mind. One if those phrases had to do with miracles.  Not exactly what you want to think about before giving birth, because that makes you realize the possibilities of a crisis to warrant a need for a miracle. None the less, I felt good about it.
So we show up get checked in and get ready to be induced. I ask them to just break my water and not give me petocin yet. They break my water at 8:24 with what the midwife called her "magic fingers"
I get up and take a stroll down the hallway and immediately the contractions start.  Remember the horrid cough I mentioned that kept me up at night? Well, I was not in short supply of coughs that morning and with each cough came a contraction. And probably after 2 strolls down the hall I started having back pain with the contractions. Probably by the third time down the hall I was done. it was waaayy too painful. I got back and called the nurse to ask for a birthing ball since she mentioned to me that the back pain is because she is malpositioned and the ball will help. Anyway she gets in there sees the pain and asked if I want the epidural.  Yes. Most definitely yes! Not caring I only made it all of 30 min or so without it.
During this time she got me ready for the epidural. I was to the point that the pain felt like too much to bear. It felt like she was getting ready to come out. She checked me and I was at an 8, I started at a 4.  I was starting to feel the need to push as the anesthesiologist was getting the epidural ready. He got it in, thankfully. I began to realize that during this time there were lots of nurses and people in there preparing for me to have this baby... however,  no doctor. This was around 9:45. Apparently,  had I not gotten the epidural, I would have not been able to not push and would have had her much earlier.

My doctor didn't show up for another 45 minutes. With each contraction I felt the need to push, I could feel her just hanging out there. My body was shaking uncontrollably.  I had no idea that was part of the transition phase. And unfortunately,  I got to experience 45 minutes of this phase. My nurses were all anxiously looking out for my doctor. I wanted so much to push her out. Finally my doctor gets there and with about three sets of pushes she was born. I have never had my epidural be low enough to he able to feel my baby come out or the need to push. It was pretty amazing to say the least. Usually, I feel like a big fat whale out of water and can't move a muscle.

In little over 2 hours of having my water broken, I had a baby ...and it could have been much sooner had my doctor been there.

.....stay tuned for the rest of the story. (It's taking me forever to type this so i'll have to do it in snippets.)

hopefully the last

Here I am at 40 weeks today.

 Totally look bigger in the next picture, which probably more like what I really am .

For kicks and giggles,  here's the primary presidency picture-minus one counselor who is not pregnant and our chorister....i'm at 37 weeks here

Rewind

33 weeks 

Gone are the hopes that I'd go early.  All those Braxton hicks and contractions threw me off giving me false hope since I never had contractions until I was in labor with my previous pregnancies. I was fully prepared to go over until I had all those and until I realized I was having a bunch of family here for the football game and I wanted more recovery time.

Since my last post, I have felt substantially more tired, mostly since the contractions and Braxton hicks happen during the night.  I just feel bummed.  However, today is a beautiful day and I'd hate to miss it cooped up in a hospital not able to feel the crisp air. And I have yet another day to get over this cough...can't imagine it after having a baby or a c-section.

Anyway, this is more of journal entry I guess. Just here for documentation. It's amazing how much blends in after so many years and can't remember about the pregnancy and birth of your children. Hopefully, this is my last pregnancy post. Next one, you'll get to meet the babe.

Let's do this

This is weird. I am almost 40 weeks and I feel mostly energetic and often times not pregnant. I was driving in the car, feeling like I should go for a run.  I don't run, basically ever, but I had the feeling of wanting exercise.  Now, don't get me wrong there are times I feel entirely pregnant and tired but I definitely have moments I could almost forget...until I try to bend over or lift something.

After yesterday's appointment,  where they told me nothing has changed, that I decided I was going to do what I needed to bring this baby in this world today. I feel selfish because Little miss is finally getting some one- on- one time with me and having another baby will change the dynamic in our home for both girls and I feel like I should hold onto that as long as I can But I want to be done. So I have been on three walks since that said appointment and had GG work on some pressure points. I did end up having some more painful braxton hix through the night but they were gone by morning.  Sigh. I'm starting to loose hope but I still have 11 more hours. :) otherwise, I should wait until Sunday when my mom and dad will be available to help again.

Wish me luck!

Another check...pallets

My back porch is almost cleared off..hopefully by the end of the day but I need a break, so I blog.  :) here are the other pallet projects that have been sitting half finished or slowly progressing to being finished.

 I kinda feel like it needs a little something more....

Maybe if I some how move it over so it's not entirely in the corner, it might look bigger.
 Suggestions welcome.

The Halloween sign...granted it will have pumpkins and a cornstalk or hay bale,  whatever I can find cheap.

Christmas trees

I might need to paint them white too but all that work aging the wood would be wasted,  like it was on the fence. I do think i'll put lights on them though and a little something else for decoration, just not sure what. Once again, ideas welcome.

Oh so many things to do

2 weeks left,  supposedly. I have been preparing in my mind for a 40-41 week pregnancy.  Last week they checked me and I was a big fat ZERO everything. Today however I was 3 cm....progress.  yessssss!
I have been busy checking stuff off my mental list.

• Nursery. Done checkity check.
• Rearrange our bedroom for the pack n play. Check, finally. I decluttered our dresser and it feels great.
• Washed and put the babes clothes in the drawers. So the whole "life changing organizer cleaner" way of putting clothes away is totally the way to go with babe's clothes. Haven't tried it with my own but it's awesome looking and effective with the baby's clothes.
• Stock up on food for boo's school lunches and for our meals...always in process but a good start.
• A few meals frozen away. Check.
• Finally got a relatively good deal on size 1 diapers. Totally  stocked up on diapers for a few months.
• Headbands made for the babe...definitely not necessary but something I wanted to do. Check.
  
• Pallet projects...still in progress but getting closer. Once that is done, get our patio table cleaned off.
• Packed a sleep over bag for the girls at grandma's and grandpa's. Check.

• There are still a few things I want cleaned that I just need to do.
•  last night in the middle of the night I was having some painful Braxton hix (contractions, do you think?) I realized I didn't have a hospital bag packed. I haven't pre register for the hospital and I haven't bought the girls any big sister gifts ( totally not essential but fun). 
• My rose bushes are also calling for my attention to remove the black spot leaves but it may not happen. 

And tomorrow is Boo's first day of school.  I've shopping for things she needs since she has been growing like a weed. And I really want to get into the swing of things with school before baby comes. Which is very possible but dare I say, it might be possible she comes early.  I know, I need to bite my tongue.

so busy, so much done and so much to do.

The nest

Okay, I think i'm ready to say I am done with the baby's room. It's simple, definitely not professional,  but I love it and am so happy to have a room that is all coordinated.

 The dresser:

 Remember this from the last post...HUGE improvement :

The crib:

 Don't look close, it is awful but I love the white with little details on this crib. However,  I will never paint a crib again...at least not in 90-100 degree weather.

The glider:

So proud of this. I covered the cushions!  I don't  sew, hot gluing is my method but I sewed it and I did it all by myself. *high five*
Like I said simple, but ahhh it feels so good to have a completed room in our home. And now I can sit and rock my babe to sleep.